Architectural waterproofing membrane and termite barrier

ABSTRACT

A prefabricated barrier for providing protection to subterranean walls and other structural members against both penetration by water and by termites, are disclosed. The barrier has a tacky and waterproof compound, preferably an asphaltic compound, protected by a release liner which is peeled from the web immediately prior to installing the web on building surfaces. A layer of stainless steel mesh is used to inhibit passage of termites. The invention comprises a protective release liner, a first layer of tacky compound, a fiber reinforced material (preferably fiberglass), a second layer of tacky compound, a stainless steel mesh, and a layer of protective film.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

1. This application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 60/081,021, filed Apr. 8, 1998, and is a Divisional Application ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/288,167, filed Apr. 8, 1999.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

2. 1. Field of the Invention

3. The present invention relates to protective barriers for buildings.More particular, the present invention comprises a unitary barrierserving multiple protective functions for subterranean buildingsurfaces, including waterproofing and inhibiting infiltration oftermites into a protected space.

4. 2. Description of the Prior Art

5. Buildings having foundations consisting of basements, crawl spaces,stem walls, grade beams, and other subterranean walls and other surfacesof occupied or unoccupied spaces are susceptible in many areas toinfiltration of water and by termites. Waterproofing has been providedto answer the former need. In many cases, waterproofing is accomplishedby coating the exterior surface of subterranean walls with bitumen andsimilar water resistant materials. Stock webs of asphaltic, rubber,plastic, latex, or acrylic composition reinforced with or withoutfiberglass (or other reinforcement materials are known). However, theknown products lack stainless steel mesh for termite control incombination with a waterproofing barrier with a tacky surface and arelease liner for assisting in installation, as taught by the presentinvention.

6. U.S. Pat. No. 4,390,585 issued to Holden on Jun. 28, 1983 discloses adurable flexible membrane and method of making same. This membrane has adense base or core fabric of multi-filament synthetic polymer yarns. PVCresin is used to coat the yarns, and additional coatings of the samecomposition are applied to both sides of the material. The resultingmembrane is excellent for use on a roof, but is not designed with asteel mesh for inhibiting termites, or with a tacky surface forassisting in installation.

7. An adhesive sheet for preventing aquatic growths and method forpreventing aquatic growths is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,814,227 issuedto Maeda et al. on Mar. 21, 1989. This invention uses an adhesive layerformed on a primer layer in the form of a plate of copper-nickel alloy.The metal plate reduces the flexibility of the sheet (as opposed to asteel mesh or screen), making it difficult to install around sharpcorners as is taught by the present invention. In addition, the adhesiveused is primarily for underwater applications and does not includematerials which are both tacky as well as flowing (for filling inrecesses and holes in the mesh.

8. U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,017 issued to Toutountzis on May 23, 1995 isdirected to termite control using a steel mesh, and is herebyincorporated by reference. In this patent, it is shown that a stainlesssteel mesh can be used as a termite barrier. In addition, in column 3,lines 35-42, the combining of the mesh into a plastic sheet for bothmoisture and termite control is discussed. The actual method ofcombining the sheet and mesh is not disclosed, nor is the use of awaterproof adhesive layer for installation, especially on vertical wallsurfaces. Furthermore, this invention provides a moisture barrier only,as opposed to the present invention which includes a waterproof barrierthat protects against water that may collect around the lower exteriorwalls of buildings.

9. A flexible protective membrane particularly useful for waterproofingand protecting reinforced concrete bodies and metal pipes is shown inU.S. Pat. No. 5,543,188 issued to Te'eni on Aug. 6, 1996. The patentdiscusses the use of bituminous materials to waterproof concretestructures, but does not disclose or teach combining a waterproof layerwith a steel mesh for termite control.

10. U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,630 issued to Byrd on Dec. 3, 1996 discussesmulti-layer waterproofing articles including a layer of water-solublepolymer. The water-soluble polymer is used to coat the adhesive layer toprevent the adhesive from adhering to itself without the use of arelease layer. Asphalt tar and pitch in addition to other materials, arediscussed for use as the adhesive, however, there is no discussion ofsteel mesh or termite control.

11. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or incombination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

12. The present invention provides a prefabricated web for providingprotection to subterranean walls and other structural members againstboth penetration by water and by termites. Protection against twohazards is thus provided by installing a single member. The novel webmay be cut to fit and adhered to subterranean wall (or any desired)surfaces.

13. Preferably, the subterranean wall surfaces are dry-primed, so that atacky surface will adhere thereto. The novel web has a tacky surfaceprotected by a release liner (preferably of polyethylene but may beother plastics, latex, acrylic, paper, etc.), which is peeled from theweb immediately prior to installing the web on building surfaces. Theliner preserves the tacky surface from contamination by dirt and othersubstances which would cover the tacky surface, thereby rendering thesame less effective for installation. Some embodiments of the inventionmay require adhesive or cement to be applied to the substrate, to theweb itself, or to both.

14. The web has at least one waterproof (as opposed to moisture ordampness resistant) member, which may or may not have a structuralreinforcing member, and includes a layer of stainless steel mesh. In oneembodiment, the waterproof member is asphaltic, which is tacky atordinary ambient temperatures. Of course other materials could be used,such as rubber, plastic, latex, or acrylic applied with an adhesive.This waterproof material is covered by a release liner, so that itstacky properties (and a clean, uncontaminated surface) are preserveduntil immediately prior to application. The stainless steel mesh hasopenings too small to allow termites to pass through. Stainless steel isa material which resists attack by deleterious influences present in thesubterranean environment, and thus will provide a durable barrier totermites.

15. In a preferred embodiment the invention comprises layers ordered asfollows. There is provided, in order, a release liner, asphalt compound,fiber reinforced material (preferably fiberglass), asphalt compound,stainless steel mesh, and finally protective film.

16. In addition to providing barriers to both water and termites, thisconstructions is flexible, therefore the resultant barrier is quitepractical to apply to building elements, since it can be folded aroundcorners and in other situations. The material can be cut by ordinarytools, yet remains durable after installation and retains significanttensile strength.

17. Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide anarchitectural barrier for lining subterranean walls and other buildingsurfaces that is impenetrable by both water and termites.

18. It is another object of the invention that the novel barrier beflexible and capable of being folded.

19. It is a further object of the invention that the novel barrier beinstalled using conventional tools and standard installation techniques.

20. Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel barrierthat will stay attached to a vertical surface during construction.

21. An additional object of the invention is to enable installation byadhesion to building surfaces.

22. It is again an object of the invention to preserve adhesivequalities of the novel barrier prior to installation.

23. Still yet another object of the invention is to provide a barrierwith easy to seal joints and a waterproof layer that provide durabilityagainst the corrosive properties of soil and other backfill materials.

24. It is yet another object of the invention to provide waterproofingand termite protection for attachment to a wide range of subterraneanbuilding surfaces, including but not limited to wood, brick, concrete,concrete block, steel, plastic, and plastic foam insulation material.

25. It is yet a further object of the invention to insure that the tackymaterial of the novel web will not adhere to itself during manufacture,packaging, storage, transportation and installation, or be exposed tothe elements and construction activity after installation and duringbuilding construction.

26. It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements andarrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which isinexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing itsintended purposes.

27. These and other objects of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

28. Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of thepresent invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomesbetter understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference characters designate the same orsimilar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

29.FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of the inventioninstalled on subterranean building components.

30.FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating the invention in a further stageof construction from that of FIG. 1.

31.FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the preferred embodiment of thenovel web, with the various layers broken away progressively to revealthe internal construction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

32.FIG. 1 of the drawings illustrates the invention, as installed on afoundation footing 2 and subterranean wall 4 of a building (not shown inits entirety). The novel web is installed in individual sheets 10, 12,14 successively adhered to external surfaces of footing 2 and wall 4.Each sheet 10, 12, or 14 overlaps its predecessor to assure continuityof the barrier of protection. Special attention should be given to allseams, edges, overlaps, corners, patches, and protrusions duringinstallation to maintain the integrity of both the waterproofing and thetermite barrier. These joints may need crimped edges, heat sealing,compression with a roller or other tool, caulking, or any combination ofthese and other sealing techniques, depending on the application. Allstainless steel mesh joints should maintain the proper distance requiredto prevent the passage of a termite.

33. The novel web is flexible, so that sheets 10, 12, 14 may be folded,as indicated at 10A, 12A, and 14A, to conform closely to footing 2 andwall 4, as well as to fit around corners of wall 4 and intersectingwalls. Surface 4A is preferably dry primed to enable adhesion by a tackymaterial. This construction provides a waterproof barrier that goesbeyond a simple dampness or moisture barrier in protecting the building.The flexibility allows flashing to be created around corners joints,projections, and dissimilar materials and surfaces. Once installed, thepresent invention need not be installed again as it will not deteriorateover time.

34.FIG. 2 shows a further stage in construction of a building protectedaccording to the invention. Both interior surfaces 2A, 4A and exteriorsurfaces 2B, 4B of footing 2 and wall 4 have been covered by a novel web14, 16. A concrete floor 6 is poured in conventional fashion, trappingweb 14 between floor 6, on one side, and footing 2 and wall 4 on theother side. Above the floor 6, the web 14 extends along wall 4 as shownby the solid line, or may extend along the floor 6 as shown by dottedline 20. The barrier thus formed in the building affords protection fromboth penetration of water and by termites. It will be appreciated thatit is a standard building practice that a well designed drainage system(not shown as not being part of the present invention) be installed toremove excess water from the footer and wall area. It will also beappreciated that the potential of hydrostatic pressure at the exteriorof the building may become so great that a drainage system will berequired.

35.FIG. 3 illustrates construction of webs 10, 12, 14, and 16. Theinvention is preferably provided as a generally flat web 300 havingnominal thickness, and comprising several strata. Web 300 includes, inthe order illustrated, in the order illustrated, a protective film 302,a stainless steel mesh screen 304, a first layer 306 of rubberizedasphalt compound (or other waterproof material), a layer of fiberreinforced material 308, (preferably fiberglass) a second layer 310 ofrubberized asphalt compound (or other waterproof material), and arelease liner 312. The asphalt compound in layers 306 and 310 embed thefiber reinforced material 308 from both directions, while the asphaltcompound in layer 306 fills the recesses of the mesh screen 304.

36. The screen mesh 304 of FIG. 3 is preferably stainless steel as isavailable from building supply and hardware stores. The asphalt compoundacts as a water barrier, with a tacky surface for adhesion to surfaceswhile filling small voids in the surfaces, while also acting as a binderfor the other layers. The present invention uses stock materials to forma novel web that is laminated into an integral structure using heat andmill forming.

37. Architectural surfaces may require that a primer or adhesive beapplied prior to the installation of the novel barrier. All surfacesshould be dry and clean prior to the installation of the web. It shouldbe noted, however, that once installed, the waterproofing (as opposed toa simple barrier to moisture or dampness) ability of the asphaltcompound protects the building components, even should rain fill thearea about the wall prior to backfilling. It should also be noted thatit is standard construction practice to install a well designed drainagesystem at or around building foundation footings to remove excess waterand hydrostatic pressure.

38. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited tothe embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

I claim:
 1. A waterproofing membrane and termite barrier for protectingan exterior building surface, said waterproofing membrane and termitebarrier comprising: a protective film; a metal mesh screen includingrecesses sized to inhibit the passage of termites therethrough, saidscreen being adjacent said protective film; a first layer of a tackywaterproof compound adjacent said metal mesh screen and opposite saidprotective film; a layer of fiber reinforced material; a second layer oftacky waterproof compound adjacent to said fiber reinforced material andopposite said first layer of tacky waterproof compound; and a releaseliner covering and protecting said exterior surface of said tackywaterproof compound prior to applying said barrier to the buildingsurface; wherein said first layer of tacky waterproof compound fillssaid recesses in said screen and contacts said protective film and saidfirst and second layers of tacky waterproof compound fills voids in saidlayer of fiber reinforced material and contact each other to therebybind the barrier together.
 2. The waterproofing membrane and termitebarrier according to claim 1 , wherein said metal mesh screen is made ofstainless steel.
 3. The waterproofing membrane and termite barrieraccording to claim 1 , wherein said protective film is made ofpolyester.
 4. The waterproofing membrane and termite barrier accordingto claim 1 , wherein said tacky waterproof compound is a rubberizedasphaltic compound.
 5. The waterproofing membrane and termite barrieraccording to claim 1 , wherein said release liner is made ofpolyethylene.
 6. The waterproofing membrane and termite barrieraccording to claim 1 , wherein said fiber reinforced material isfiberglass.